The John Michuki Memorial Park stands as a beacon of urban renewal, natural beauty and a remarkable testament to transformation. Once an overlooked open space plagued by neglect and crime, today it is a vibrant urban oasis that attracts daily visitors, nature enthusiasts, and tourists from around the globe.

With its lush greenery, flourishing forest, and well-maintained recreational areas, the park has evolved into a cherished community asset and a model of urban rehabilitation.

Before it was known as the Hon John Michuki Memorial Park, the area was called Mazingira Park, a government-owned open space with an unremarkable history. Originally, the park’s road was used for tree planting. However, its proximity to the town made it an easy target for misuse.

Over time, the park became a notorious dumping ground where various types of waste were discarded, and it even turned into a hideout for criminals. The area surrounding the park was further marred by the presence of a nearby garage and an old museum, contributing to the sense of neglect.

With a total area of 12.3 hectares, the potential for rejuvenation was clear, yet the space was in dire need of intervention.

“At around 2008, Hon John Michuki was the first person to handle the restoration of the park. He decided to rehabilitate the park and started to plant trees, but even after he tried to clean the people still dumped trash in the park,” says Ismail Mukyar, forest station manager at the Hon John Michuki Memorial Park.

Dumping ground

At the time, John Njoroge Michuki, whom the park is named after, was Minister for Environment and Mineral Resources. He set out to transform Mazingira Park into a safe and welcoming public recreation area. His vision was not without obstacles. Despite his tireless efforts in planting trees and initiating clean-up drives, the park still suffered from persistent dumping.

At the time, the area was fraught with danger; not only was it a dumping site, but it was also infamous for violent crimes. Reports from the era tell of women being assaulted, gangs roaming freely and even fatal incidents taking place.

“Disturbing remnants including human remains and discarded weapons such as guns were revealed during the clean-ups,” Ismail discloses.
Following Michuki’s death in 2012, the legacy of his work was honoured when former Prime Minister Raila Odinga visited the park. Recognising the profound impact of Michuki’s dedication, Odinga declared that the park be renamed in his honour.

Over the subsequent years, the area experienced a period of neglect, and the old habits of dumping gradually re-emerged. In 2020, the park witnessed another turning point. Under the leadership of former President Uhuru Kenyatta and the supervision of former Cabinet Secretary of Environment, Keriako Tobiko, efforts to rehabilitate the park were revived with renewed strength.

“He camped at the place and it was a daily routine to clean the park. More than 20,000 tonnes of waste were taken from the place. To level the place soils were brought from as far as Kiambu and other places to level the ground and plant grass,” Ismail states.

Collaboration was key to this remarkable turnaround. Multiple government bodies and stakeholders joined forces to breathe new life into the space. The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), the Ministry of Agriculture, National Environment Management Authority (Nema), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), National Museums of Kenya, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (Kefri), and a dedicated seed company played vital roles in the revival.

“Kefri established the tree nursery, Nema was responsible for cleaning up the river, KFS carried out fencing and Simlaw Seeds were responsible for planting grass,” the station manager recalls.

In the efforts to restore the park, 6,357 indigenous trees were planted throughout the park, infusing the area with native flora and bolstering local biodiversity.

Lush landscape

Today, the Hon John Michuki Memorial Park is unrecognisable from its troubled past. The park now features a sprawling forest where visitors can embark on leisurely walks, relax amidst nature, or engage in various outdoor activities. Its carefully designed landscape has made it an ideal venue for community events. Birthday parties, wedding receptions and team-building activities are now regular occurrences.

The park is home to hundreds of bird species, and its curated garden boasts a collection of medicinal plants that attract both nature lovers and researchers alike.

Security has also been a top priority. With round-the-clock surveillance by dedicated rangers, the park has earned a reputation as one of the safest public spaces in the city.

“On an average day, we get more than 200 visitors exploring the park’s scenic pathways, breathe in the fresh air, and relish the serene ambiance,” he adds.

Additionally, the park’s ongoing management efforts include a project to clean the Nairobi River, which gracefully winds its way through the park over a kilometre stretch.

The transformation has not gone unnoticed. The park has become a benchmark for urban renewal, drawing admiration from municipal leaders and policymakers both locally and internationally.

“Last year, the park hosted visitors from 47 municipalities, with county officials and even Ugandan Members of Parliament among those who toured the space,” explains Ismail.

Mayors and representatives from different countries have visited to study the park’s rehabilitation model, while several international universities have expressed interest in replicating Kenya’s innovative approach.

“There are a number of universities from abroad who came to benchmark, they weren’t looking to copy what Kenya did, but they really appreciate our approach,” Ismail says.